John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
In the middle of Madison's Four Freedoms Park stands a tall marble monument, with a plaque recalling the names of those from Madison County who were killed in action or died in service to the Confederate States of America. With the recent protests and call to action to remove Confederate imaging from the public eye, is the time now to act on Madison's past?
Local businessman Donnell Davis, owner of C&E Market Place, approached the Madison City Commissioners during their Tuesday, June 9, meeting to address the confederate monument, "Lest We Forget."
"We see what's going on in the nation. We see what's going on around the world," said Davis. "When I walked to the Four Freedoms Park – and I've been talking about this for forever to my family – I think the time now is right. We have a statue up there – a Confederate statue. It's the time now for that monument to come down because it stands for hatred. It doesn't stand for peace. It doesn't stand for David Dukes' monument of the voice of the people for justice for all – for justice for human rights for all. So, in order for us to have change moving forward, I think that's the first thing."
"This is the face of Madison," Davis stated, referring to the five Madison City Commissioners. "I challenge you: think about it. The time is definitely now because you see it all over the country … It's time for justice for all."
In 2017, the Madison Police Department (MPD) stood watch all day and night on Friday, Aug. 18, guarding the Four Freedoms Park and specifically the Confederate monument. MPD acted on a tip passed along from the Domestic Security Intelligence Analysts. Madison was just one of several North Florida communities who received alerts about potential vandalism to Confederate monuments.
Chief Reggie Alexander was informed Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at approximately 8:10 p.m. that the anarchist group known as "Anonymous" had instructed followers to "take down all Confederate monuments at all costs." The threat went as far as to specifically mention the monument in Four Freedoms Park.
In the past month, a number of monuments and statues have been removed by local governments or toppled by protestors. In Montgomery, Ala., a statue of General Robert E. Lee was toppled from its place at Robert E. Lee High School. Up the road in Birmingham, Ala., a monument to Confederate soldiers and sailors was removed by the City of Birmingham.
Reportedly, state Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a civil lawsuit, citing the requirement of a waiver to remove the monument and without one, the violation of Alabama's monument preservation law. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin told NBC that "I chose my city to avoid more civil unrest … It's probably better for this city to pay this civil fine than to have more civil unrest."
According to Madison City Manager Jerome Wyche, the discussion regarding the monument will be placed on the Tuesday, July 14, 5:30 p.m. regular session agenda for the Madison City Commission. Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 in Madison County, however, citizens are welcome to participate via GoToMeeting. The item regarding the monument, as well as the item allowing for citizens participation, will be placed towards the bottom of the agenda whereas regular city business will be discussed earlier.
To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone, visit https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/335257285. Use the access code 335-257-285 to enter the meeting. Citizens of Madison may also call in to the meeting by dialing a toll-free number: 1 (877) 309-2073. Residents may also dial 1 (646) 749-3129. Madison City Hall is located at 321 SW Rutledge St., in Madison.